Dark Alpha's Demand: A Reaper Novel (Reapers) (3 page)

Neve sucked in her breath when Talin grasped her hips and began to rock them back and forth. She closed her eyes as pleasure filled her until her entire body hummed with it.

He placed her hands on the arms of the chair as her breasts bounced with each movement. Neve then held herself up before lowering herself once more.

Talin groaned her name, causing her stomach to clench in need. He began to pump his hips, sliding in and out of her. All Fae were sexual creatures, but Talin touched her on a level she hadn’t dreamed could happen.

Hadn’t known existed.

He required her to hold nothing back, and in turn, he gave her all of himself.

Every wild, wicked, wonderful part of him.

“Beautiful,” he said huskily. “And all mine.”

Sweat beaded upon her skin as he began to thrust deeper, harder. Just as she liked it. Just as she needed it.

He swept her hair aside and nipped the lobe of her ear with his teeth. His warm breath fanned over her face. She wanted to touch him, to run her hands over his fine body, but Talin ensured that this time would be all his.

His hands moved from her neck to her breasts to mercilessly tease her nipples before dipping lower to fondle her swollen clit. Desire tightened low in her belly.

Time ceased as they gave in to the pleasures of the flesh. Every breath, every sigh tightened the growing bond between them. His skilled hands wrung cry after carnal cry from her.

Their bodies were slickened with sweat by the time he moved them to the floor. Neve was on her hands and knees as he kneeled behind her. His large hands held her hips steady as he began to pound into her.

In no time, the climax consumed her, sweeping into a maelstrom of ecstasy and rapture. She understood the true meaning of bliss because she experienced it each time she was in Talin’s arms.

His fingers dug into her hips as he said her name and thrust deep before spilling his seed within her. For several minutes, neither moved as the sound of their breathing filled the room.

“You’re going to be the death of me,” Talin said.

Neve laughed as they fell to the side, limbs entangled. Her back was still against his chest, his arms wound around her. She grinned, amazed at how lucky she was to have him in her life.

“What are you smiling about?”

She grunted. “You can’t see me. You’ve no idea if I’m smiling.”

“I can tell,” he said and lifted his head. “Yep. Smiling. I’m that good, aye?”

“Anyone ever tell you that you’re conceited?”

He barked in laughter. “Kyran does all the time.”

She wanted to ask who Kyran was, but she somehow knew he wouldn’t tell her. It was the first time Talin had let something of his life slip out, and she was going to accept the little that he offered without questioning it.

“Now tell me why you’re really smiling,” he urged. Then he kissed the side of her head.

“I’m happy. Truly, delightfully happy.”

“You sound surprised.”

It was on the tip of Neve’s tongue to tell him how she’d dreamed of having the kind of love Rhi and her Dragon King had. Not that Neve wanted the same ending as Rhi. But the story of Rhi and her Dragon King lover’s affair had been told to thousands of young girls.

It was retold as a cautionary tale, but that’s not how Neve heard it. All she knew was that the kind of love she’d always hoped for existed. The kind of love where the person was the other half of another.

The kind of love where nothing could tear two people apart.

The kind of love that defied time.

True love
.

Her greatest fear was having the type of marriage her parents had. They were pleasant to each other, but there was no love—never had been. It was a marriage that gave both families advantages.

Neve refused to be a pawn, but her father was getting tired of her not picking a husband and settling down. How much longer did she have on her own?

Surprised that she was happy? Yes, that was true. Neve turned over to face Talin. “How long do I have with you?”

“I’m not leaving anytime soon,” he said with a wink.

Neve stared at him until she saw the realization cross his face. There had been a small kernel of hope buried deep that he would never leave. But she had her answer.

“How did you know?” he asked, all traces of a smile gone.

“You speak often and about many things, but never yourself. You keep everything completely private. You’re gone for long periods, and you’re secretive. Anyone who has a brain can put two and two together.”

“Not just anyone,” he said softly. His pale silver eyes held hers. “Only someone who knows me as you know me.”

“Why me?”

His hand touched her cheek. “Because I had to have you.”

“Will you ever tell me who you really are?”

“That I can’t do. Ever.”

She swallowed, hurt more deeply than she could handle. Neve took several steadying breaths until she had a handle on her emotions. “Why?”

“It’s for your protection. And mine.”

It was on the tip of Neve’s tongue to argue and tell him that she’d never disclose anything he told her, but it would be pointless.

“I didn’t want to upset you,” he said.

Neve lowered her eyes to his chest. “I think it’s better if I know the truth of things instead of hoping for something I’ll never have.” She returned her gaze to his. “You.”

“Neve,” he whispered. He held her tenderly, firmly.

Her heart constricted painfully. Until that moment, she hadn’t realized just how hard she’d fallen for Talin. She was in love with a man who could never be hers.

Was this what Rhi felt like? Neve had idolized the Light Fae her entire life. Although Neve wanted a love like Rhi’s, what she’d gotten instead was comprehension of the pain of loss.

“If I could remain, I would.”

“Don’t,” Neve said and shoved away from him. She sat up, needing some distance. “Don’t you dare say things you don’t mean.”

There was a brief pause before Talin put his hand on her back. “I’m speaking the truth.”

Tears prickled her eyes, but she refused to cry. She was an Everwood. She would wait until she was alone in her chamber before she gave in to the need to cry.

Neve climbed to her feet, summoning her clothes as she did. When she faced Talin, she was once more dressed without the threat of tears.

“Neve?”

Was that worry in his voice? Trepidation? Perhaps even a little fear? That made her feel a little better, but only slightly. “My family expects me to choose my husband soon. I’ve put it off long enough.”

Talin’s frown was deep. He jumped to his feet as his eyes narrowed with concern.

She waited for him to say he was her man, that she didn’t need to look anywhere else. Yet Talin remained silent. All the while she’d been falling in love with him, and he felt nothing. Had he used her?

Neve couldn’t even fathom the thought. It was better for all concerned if she didn’t proceed with questions of that sort because she feared just what the answer might be.

There was so much she wanted to say to Talin, so much she wanted him to understand about her. Neve wasn’t known for holding her tongue. She spoke her mind. But the words wouldn’t come this time.

She walked from the room with her head high—even as her heart broke. How would she ever manage to find someone to marry after having a man like Talin?

Neve turned the corner and nearly collided with someone. She looked up to find Atris.

“Where have you been?” he asked in a low voice as he cautiously looked around.

“With Talin.”

Atris rolled his eyes. “Just as I expected.”

Neve wasn’t in the mood for his jests. “I’m not feeling well. I’m going home.”

“Sorry, sis. Not happening.” He turned and clasped her arm as he began walking, tugging her beside him. “Father is searching for you.”

Damn. “For how long?”

“Long enough to notice that you’ve been gone entirely too long.”

“You didn’t cover for me?”

He shot her a droll look. “Of course, I did. For as long as I could. The only thing saving your ass is the fact that no one saw you leave with Talin.”

“Because I didn’t.” Neve jerked her arm from his hold before they returned to the main ballroom. “I’m a grown woman.”

“In the eyes of humans, yes.”

“In the eyes of the Fae, as well,” she argued.

Atris sighed and put his hands on his hips as he shook his head. “It took weeks for both of us to convince our parents to let you move out on your own. Take what you can.”

“No.”

Concern and worry clouded her brother’s silver gaze. He raked a hand through his short, black hair. “What are you thinking of doing now?”

“I know the rules of the court and society, but I just don’t care anymore. I’m tired of it all.”

“This has to do with Talin,” Atris guessed. “What did he do?”

It was more what he hadn’t done, but Neve kept that to herself. “Talin was a fling.”

“Right,” Atris said with a loud snort.

“He was. Now, since I’m tired, I’m going home. Tell Father you found me as I was leaving. I’ll talk to him tomorrow.”

Neve walked to the outside of the castle where the spells preventing just anyone from teleporting in and out stopped. Then she used her magic to transport her to her flat in Castlebar.

As soon as she was alone, the tears came. Neve stood in the middle of her flat and buried her face in her hands as she cried for the hope that withered and died horribly, for the love that would never grow.

She didn’t know how long she stood there. When she lifted her head, her eyes hurt and her nose was clogged. She wiped at the trail of tears and walked to her bedroom.

There were times she missed living in her parents’ large estate. There were always people about, working at the house. As well as visitors. But on days like today, Neve enjoyed her solitude more than ever.

The silence of her flat was resounding. Thoughts of Talin and their conversation were on constant replay in her head. Neve grabbed the remote to the radio and clicked it on as she walked past.

She removed her gown and hung it in her closet before she grabbed a pair of jeans, a white tee shirt, and a green cardigan.

Neve turned and came to a halt when she saw one of the drawers of her bureau open. She looked inside to see her panties shoved this way and that as if someone had been digging through the drawer.

She whirled around, testing the magic of her flat. No one was supposed to be able to get past her spells, but someone had. This wasn’t the first time she’d come home to notice something amiss.

This time—like the black roses upon her bed—was something she couldn’t shake off as imagined or forgetful. Someone definitely wanted her attention.

In order to get this to stop, Neve was going to have to find out why.

Cael remained veiled in the corner of the hallway, listening to Neve and her brother. Usaeil and the Queen’s Guard took great precautions to ensure that no one could be veiled or teleport within the castle, except with special permission.

Then again, Cael was a Reaper and had special abilities.

Leading the Reapers gave him insight into each of the men that the others didn’t know. It’s why he was at the Light court. He had no doubt Talin could complete his orders, but that’s not what worried Cael. It was the fact that Talin might have feelings for Neve.

Cael waited until Neve and Atris were gone before he unveiled himself in the deserted corridor and walked into the room where Talin remained.

From his position on the chair, Talin’s head jerked at the sound of the door, but the hope that spread across his face died as soon as he saw Cael. “What are you doing here?”

“This isn’t exactly a pleasant place to be. Then there’s the tidbit of information you shared with Kyran and Eoghan,” Cael stated.

Talin merely nodded, his thoughts seemingly elsewhere.

Cael had been right to come. “I was told you believe the Dragon Kings need to know what’s going on here.”

“I do.” Talin’s gaze was on the floor, his arms resting casually along the arms of the chair.

But Cael wasn’t fooled. Talin was good at concealing his emotions, burying them deep, but he wasn’t an expert like Fintan. Yet. Fintan repressed everything to a dangerous extreme. Cael didn’t want Talin going down that road.

“You’ve a valid point,” Cael stated. “I’m going to see Con soon, and I’d like you there to add what you’ve experienced and seen personally.”

“All right.”

Cael released a deep breath. “Neve isn’t like Jordyn or River.”

“I’m well aware,” Talin bit out.

The show of anger relieved Cael. It meant Talin wasn’t pushing aside all his emotions. Not yet, anyway. “I’m sorry. I know you have feelings for her.”

“Like you said, Neve isn’t half—Fae. She’s Light.” Talin pushed himself to his feet. “Odd, isn’t it? How Baylon and Kyran manipulated the situation to their benefits, pushing the women’s human side ahead of the Fae. But it’s the Fae part that allows them to be Reapers.”

Cael had known this would eventually come to a head. He’d discussed it with Death, but Death assured him that it would be taken care of.

“Even Death seemed to forget Jordyn and River’s Fae part. Hell, River knew she was a Fae. At least with Jordyn, she didn’t have a clue!” Talin shouted.

There was nothing Cael could say that would make the situation better. And apologizing again would be useless, other than to rile Talin more.

A tingling along his spine was all the warning Cael received before he heard a sultry voice behind him say, “I didn’t forget anything.”

Cael turned and sucked in a breath as he took in Death. Her lustrous ebony locks were piled behind her with curls falling about her face and shoulders in a way that tantalized him.

Lavender eyes glanced his direction before she once more concentrated on Talin. Erith wore another of her favorite gowns. The full, trailing skirt was the same lavender shade as her eyes with black tulle covering it.

The black bodice fit snuggly against her, emphasizing her tiny waist and full breasts. The entire dress hung on her shoulders by thin, black straps and dipped so low in the front that Cael had an eyeful of cleavage.

Talin stared at Death with a mixture of anger and reverence.

She looked around the room and raised a brow at all the gold. With a roll of her eyes, Erith shook her head. “I’ve often wondered what Usaeil was thinking when she decorated.”

Death rarely interacted with the Reapers. Cael was the one who spoke to her, and even that was irregular. Or it had been. Bran’s escape from the Netherworld changed many things—including how much time Cael spent with Erith.

He could wholly admit she was the most beautiful thing he’d ever gazed upon. The fact she barely reached his shoulders, but had more magic and power than all the Light at court combined, always made him smile.

It’s because he knew her that he understood why she was speaking of Usaeil’s choice in decorations instead of continuing the conversation with Talin. She was giving Talin time to calm down.

“It’s been a long time since I stepped foot in this castle. I was here when she first claimed it as a Light stronghold all those thousands of years ago.” Erith turned to Cael, but there was no smile in greeting. “You and the rest of the men need to know this place inside and out.”

That got Cael’s attention. Death only gave that order if she suspected there was a need to defend—or attack—in the future. “I’ll see it done.”

“Veiled,” she ordered.

Talin replied, “Someone knows I’m here already. The rumor is spreading throughout the court faster than lightning.”

Erith moved to stand closer to Cael as she faced Talin. “Is it Bran?”

“I’ve not seen him,” Talin said. “And I’ve been looking.”

Cael added, “The rumor could’ve been started by anyone. Bran or one of his cronies.”

“True.” Erith slowly nodded. “Has anyone said it was you, Talin?”

Talin’s lips twisted. “Not yet. Everyone is watching everyone else, though.”

“That could work to our benefit,” Death said, a slow smile pulling at her lips.

Cael couldn’t look away from her mouth. She had no idea how enticing she was—and she never would. Because he’d never let it pass his lips.

“How?” Talin asked.

Erith held out both of her arms. “Look where we are. The Queen of the Light’s castle. Where is Usaeil?”

“Gone. Again,” Cael answered.

Erith dropped her arms and turned her head to him. “Exactly. As she has been of late. A Reaper at court isn’t the only rumor swirling, is it?”

“No.” Talin laughed. “Everyone is also whispering about the photo of Usaeil with a man. The speculation is it’s a Dragon King.”

Erith nodded, smiling. “Usaeil isn’t here to squash any rumors or get her court under control. The Queen’s Guard has been in disarray since Rhi left. This leaves the court very vulnerable.”

Cael frowned as he faced her. “Are you telling me you believe someone might take over?”

“No,” Death replied.

One word and no explanation as to what she meant. This was how most of the conversations with Erith went. Cael should be used to it after all these thousands of years, but sometimes, it irritated him.

“So, what do you mean?” Talin asked.

Erith was silent for a moment. “Tensions are going to begin to run high. First, about the Dragon King. It might’ve been ages since Rhi’s fling with her King, but the Light don’t forget easily.”

“No Fae does,” Cael murmured.

Death cut her gaze to him for a moment. “As fast as that rumor will continue to circulate, it’s the fear of a Reaper at court that will keep that one going. You’ve been accepted here, Talin. Use it to your advantage. Continue to make your rounds and listen. I think you’ll be surprised at what you hear.”

“I could do more veiled,” he said.

Before Cael could respond, Death said a cool, “No.”

Talin bowed his head. “I’ll get on it immediately.”

Cael watched Talin leave the room. He’d seen firsthand what could happen to a Reaper who fell in love with a Fae. Bran had destroyed the Reapers from the inside out because of it.

“You’re worried about him,” Erith said, breaking into his thoughts.

Cael turned his head to her at her statement. “I worry about all my men.”

“They’re not Bran.”

“I didn’t think Bran was capable of killing us, but I was wrong.”

Erith arched a black brow. “So you question your judgment?”

“You choose the Fae to be Reapers.”

Erith’s eyes widened before she looked at him with something akin to admiration. “So you question
my
judgment.”

Cael squeezed his eyes shut a moment. It hadn’t been a question. “You chose each of us because we were betrayed in some way that brought about our deaths. We’re all fighters.”

“But?”

“There is no but. It’s a simple fact. We fight for justice, for you, and for the continuation of things as they should be.”

She tilted her head to the side and regarded him, her black locks moving with her. “You’ve always had a higher sense of right and wrong than most. You aren’t hasty in your decisions, and you weigh all your options. It’s why you’re a leader. You should’ve been leader of the first group.”

“I was the newest. Theo did a good job.”

“He wasn’t you.”

Cael had never heard such praise from Death before.

She drew in a deep breath. “You knew what Bran was going to do.”

He lowered his gaze, not wanting to think about that time. Theo had had his hands full with the Reapers splitting apart.

“You told Eoghan,” Erith continued as she moved closer to him. “You tried to tell Theo.”

“I was too late.”

“It was your observations that saved both you and Eoghan.”

Cael slid his eyes back to her. “That’s not true. Bran and the others were winning. They would’ve killed Eoghan and me had you not arrived.”

“I think your memories of that night are clouded with yet another betrayal, as well as the magic Bran aimed at your head. When I arrived, all that was left was Bran. I had to pull you off him.”

Cael shook his head. “That’s not how I remember it.”

“Eoghan had been knocked out with a blast of magic. The same one that Bran aimed at your head. It bounced off you and hit Eoghan so you weren’t unconscious as Bran wanted when he attacked.”

Cael searched his memories, but just as Erith said, they were clouded.

“As good as every Reaper now is, I chose the right one to lead.”

He rubbed his chin. “Then hear me when I say we could have a problem with Talin.”

“Because he’s in love with Neve?”

“You know?” Cael asked with a frown.

Erith lifted one shoulder in a shrug. “It was fairly easy to deduce after his blowup earlier.”

“You changed the rules for Baylon and Kyran.”

Death hastily looked away. “I did it because neither of those half—Fae had connections to the Fae. River knew of her heritage, but she’d never interacted with a Fae.”

Cael hung his head, furious and sad for Talin at the same time. It was going to devastate Talin, who’d watched his best friend fall in love and get the girl.

“Talin chose one of the most connected families to get involved with,” Erith continued. “Neve is an Everwood. That family has always been a part of court. They’re respected. There’s no way Neve could know who he is and not let it slip eventually.”

“I know.” Cael’s heart broke for Talin.

“I’ve watched Neve.”

Cael’s head jerked up. “You’ve watched her?”

“I wanted to see who Talin managed to connect with. I was thrilled to discover it was the Everwoods, and that it happened by accident.”

“Talin is charming and likable.”

Erith bowed her head. “It’s why I chose him for this assignment. His interaction with Neve hinted at something deeper, something more profound. I never expected him to fall in love.”

“But he has.”

She met his gaze. “If he tells Neve–”

“He won’t,” Cael spoke over her before she could finish the sentence.